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Horsemeat scandal report calls for 'robust' Food Crime Unit

The long-awaited report into the food industry launched after last year's horsemeat scandal has called for a "robust, effective" Food Crime Unit to protect the industry and consumers from criminal activity.

Professor Chris Elliott's report calls for unannounced audits and a zero-tolerance approach to help protect consumers from more incidents like the horsemeat scandal.

Consumers must be put first by ensuring that their needs in relation to food safety and food crime prevention are the "top priority", the government-commissioned report states.

Timeline of the 2013 horse meat scandal

15 January 2013 - It emerges horse DNA was found in frozen burgers sold in several British and Irish supermarkets. Tecso, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and Dunnes Stores all remove the offending products.

7 February - Findus announce the majority of its Beef Lasagne it had tested contained between 60%-100% horse meat

14 February - The French Government announces a French company had its license revoked A La Table de Spanghero license after it was found knowingly selling horse meat labelled as beef. They had sold to another French company, Comigel.

The horse meat found in Comigel products originated from a Romanian slaughterhouse called Doly Com. They had supplied the meat under contract to a holding company based in Cyprus, Draap Trading Limited.

The company, which operates in the Netherlands, was found to be owned by a Virgin Islands holding company. Draap spelt backwards is paard, the Dutch word for horse.

April 2013 - Independent review of the food industry is announced by the Government.